MyDearest Inc. ("MyDearest"), a virtual reality game company in Japan, announced the closing of its 1.2 billion yen (US $7.8 million) funding today. The investment is led by SBI Investment Co., Ltd. and is joined by DG Daiwa Ventures Inc., NetEase Games, Wing Capital Partners, Ltd., OLM Ventures Inc., Samurai Incubate Inc., Dentsu Group and Mitsubishi UFJ Capital, bringing the total funding to date to 2.4 billion yen (US $16.1 million). With the recent capital infusion, MyDearest is poised to accelerate its endeavors in the development and launch of groundbreaking VR titles released on platforms like Meta Quest and PlayStation 5. This funding will not only enable the company to publish captivating works but also to strategically expand and capitalize on its existing intellectual properties (IPs).
MyDearest's VR adventure titles Tokyo Chronos, Altdeus: Beyond Chronos, and Dyschronia: Chronos Alternate all feature vast storylines with playtimes of 15-30 hours each, standing as some of the largest stories told in VR. Tokyo Chronos was chosen out of over 1,000 apps for inclusion in the Oculus Go Store's Oculus Essentials selection, while Altdeus: Beyond Chronos became the highest-rated app on the Meta Quest Store for two months in a row, as well as receiving Famitsu Magazine's 2020 Adventure Game of the Year Award. Dyschronia: Chronos Alternate also became the top user rated game on the Meta Quest Store (as per the Road to VR research), received 3 Grand Winners & 5 Gold Winners in the NYX Game Awards, and was chosen as one of the "2022 Best of Quest: Best Narrative Games" by Meta.
Comment from Kento Kishigami, CEO of MyDearest
"Until now, MyDearest has been a frontrunner in VR games representing Japan, but with this round of funding, it will become a frontrunner in VR games "representing the world." The technology of VR holds the potential to create entertainment experiences that will become the common language in a new world.
The challenges ahead include further global expansion of the original IP that MyDearest has cultivated so far, the publishing business resulting from knowhow acquired through many years of global activity in the VR field, and above all, the challenge of creating the world's best VR multiplayer game in "Brazen Blaze" by building the strongest development team to bring these games to life.
With this round of funding, we are welcoming many wonderful shareholders and receiving financial support, and we feel a great sense of gratitude for being able to take on such challenges. We carry a sense of pride along with a great responsibility as we move forward in our business activities."
MyDearest, based in Tokyo, was founded in 2016 by Kento Kishigami, Yosuke Kori, and Shotaro Chida, united through a passion for unconventional storytelling. Their desire to share intricate narratives and gripping VR experiences with the world led to the release of Tokyo Chronos in 2019, Altdeus: Beyond Chronos in 2020, and Dyschronia: Chronos Alternate in 2022. Dyschronia: Chronos Alternate will also be released on the Nintendo Switch™ on November 22, 2023.
Dyschronia: Chronos Alternate Switch Store Page: https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/dyschronia-chronos-alternate-definitive-edition-switch/
The studio is currently developing Brazen Blaze, a 3v3 Smack & Shoot Multiplayer Action, with the Closed Alpha Test attracting more than 2,000 players worldwide in October. An Open Beta Test is planned for February 2024. Wishlist on Steam to get the latest updates.
Steam store: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2511050/Brazen_Blaze/